40 Years of Verbs: The NFL Guys
8/28/2025
In his 39 years, Steve Verbit has coached several defensive players that have gone onto play in the NFL. Here, some of them share their thoughts and memories of Verbs.
I first met Coach Verbit when I was 16, at a Princeton camp back in 2008. He pushed me harder than I had ever been pushed before. I remember leaving those sessions completely exhausted, only to come back the next day knowing he’d demand even more. That kind of relentless standard shaped me not just as a player, but as a person. My freshman year, he was extremely demanding and critical and while it was tough, it gave me the foundation I needed.
He taught me what great defensive line play should look like, and I used his standard as a rubric to guide my play throughout my career. I knew if I checked off the boxes he always emphasized, my abilities would take care of the rest. He was also instrumental in my preparation for the NFL. He opened his office so I could spend extra hours on film, connected me with the best tools, and never stopped pushing me to sharpen my game. He was consistently supportive when I became a starter or made a big play or played for the Cowboys.
One of the things that makes Coach Verbit so special, and why he’s had such incredible longevity, is that he’s always evolving. As the game changes, he’s constantly looking for ways to adapt, whether that’s learning a new drill from another coach, refining a technique, or a new install that might give his players just a little extra edge. Coach Verbit’s influence doesn’t end when your time on the field ends. He keeps showing up, supporting, mentoring, networking, and trying to do the best for his players. Princeton Football is better because of him, and my career has been profoundly blessed by his impact.
Favorite Memory: After my freshman year, I was fortunate to be on Coach Verbit’s good side, which meant I got to fully enjoy all the ways he’d describe mistakes. His critiques were always sharp, but they came with so many memorable quips that you couldn’t help but laugh at least when you weren’t the one being called out. The lesson was simple: if you were a good player, or at the very least sound in your technique, you’d avoid being on the wrong end of those critiques. And if you did that, you could really appreciate his sense of humor and his passion. What always amazed me was how, despite not being the biggest man on the field, his voice carried everywhere. Whether it was through a bullhorn or even after his hip replacement when he couldn’t move around, he still found a way to make his presence felt.
Caraun Reid '13 - Detroit Lions (2014-15), San Diego Chargers (2016), Detroit Lions (2017), Dallas Cowboys (2018), Arizona Cardinals (2019), Jacksonville Jaguars (2020), Tennessee Titans (2021)
Coach Verbs is a Princeton Football legend for good reason.
He lives and breathes it.
He believed in me since I walked in the building without ever playing a down of defense before. His love and respect for the art of pass rushing was contagious and he made me obsessed with becoming the best pass rusher in the league, and we worked together relentlessly until that dream became a reality.
It was the honor of my life to then represent him and the entire Princeton football family on the NFL stage for five years, and none of that happens without Coach Verbit. Finally, when football was done for me, my old coach still had my back and made sure he was available to help me in any way possible as I took my first steps without football in my life since I was 8 years old. I will forever be grateful to him, wouldn't be where I am without him, and I am blessed for the many memories we shared together
Mike Catapano '13 - Kansas City Chiefs (2013), New York Jets (2015-16)
